http://www.somuchworld.com/italy/rome/travel_guide

When in Rome you could drive through the narrow streets like a maniac, scoff panini on the run and cast blaze glances at the surrounding glut of ancient ruins.

But doing as the Romans would miss the city's raison d'etre. To do the Italian capital any justice you'd want to stroll its cobblestone streets and spacious piazzas while leisurely licking scoops of gelati. You'd want to take long lazy lunches of fried artichokes caramelized in lemon butter and wash it down with Frascati wine. You'd want to mine every superlative in the dictionary as you gawk at the basilicas, palaces, fountains and ancient ruins gracing every corner.

The former hub of the formidable Roman Empire, this modern, frenetic city has lost little of its ancient allure. Rome is still a city where you can have an audience with the Pope in the morning, a siesta in the afternoon and a romantic tryst by the Trevi Fountain at night.

Rome was not built in a day, nor can it be seen it a day; in fact, you'd need at least four action-packed days and nights to take in its major sites.

Vatican City

Rome is home to Vatican City, the world's smallest (and wealthiest) nation-state. The Pope addresses his flock here (in a variety of European languages) every Wednesday at 11am. As you enter the city you are greeted by the baroque grandiosity of Piazza San Pietro and the adjoining St Peter's Basilica complete with Michelangelo masterpieces gracing its massive dome. Further afield, the opulent Vatican Museum is crammed with an obscene amount of ancient plunder and artistic masterpieces. The Sistine Chapel, which culminates tours of the museum, is always packed with people craning their necks to view Michelangelo frescoes on the ceiling.

Other Rome highlights

• Feed yourself to the tour guides at the Colosseum where gladiators once entertained the bloodthirsty masses
• Wander the Roman Forum, an impressive open-air museum dating back to the 7th century BC that was ancient Rome's commercial and religious heart. Above is Capitoline Hill, its former political centre.
• Stand inside the Pantheon (literally "Temple of All the Gods"), ancient Rome's best-preserved building; marvel at the way light streams through a hole in the dome.
• Explore the Jewish Ghetto and visit its Sephardic synagogue
• Cross the river and bar-hop around the romantic Trastevere district
• People-watch on the Spanish Steps and window shop the plush boutiques along the adjacent Via dei Condotti.
• Sip a latte at a cafe around the Campo de' Fiori
• Take an Italian cooking course
• Toss a coin over your shoulder into the Trevi Fountain and as legend has it, you'll return to Rome.